Mackenzie B. Email & Phone Number

I’ve always loved puzzles. The more difficult the better. The rewarding feeling of finding the piece that you have been hunting for is a simple joy in life in which I find great satisfaction. Starting a puzzle is the easy part; find the edge pieces and lay the framework. After this the challenge really begins. Typically I form a strategy on how I’m going to attack the puzzle at hand and start filtering the pieces by color and estimated location, etc. This is the stage that is most deliberate; continually studying the pieces and narrowing them down one by one until the big picture begins to come together.Finally, the majority of the puzzle is assembled. The pace of the momentum builds, only a few more empty spaces to fill, and suddenly you realize you are holding the last piece. You click it into place and sit back and admire the finished product…but just for a minute and then it’s on to the next puzzle! When I think about all of the aspects of my career that I enjoy and that excite me the most, puzzles are a great metaphor. There are few things more rewarding than being presented with a challenge and finding a way to put different pieces together until you land on a successful outcome. In my career, puzzle pieces are KPIs like inventory turn, margin, and ROI. Developing the framework with the right product assortment, vendor relationships and buying strategy are just a few ways that bring all of the pieces together, and if a piece doesn’t quite fit you keep working until you find the right one. I have always believed that the small details matter and can play a huge role in the big picture. If something doesn't work together or line up just right it can have a ripple effect and interfere with everything else it’s connected to. Things like product offering, model stock or IMU for example. The most exciting part of buying for me is when you are able to see the benefits and growth as a result of shifting the right elements to fit into place. Of course, this comparison can be applied to so many more things. It’s one of the many reasons why I love a good puzzle. They’re all different, some more difficult than others, and there is always a new one to tackle.

Listed skills include Social Media, Public Speaking, Purchasing, Skilled Multi Tasker, and 36 others.

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  Oregon State University

  Merchandising Management